Time for an upgrade - 210 or 220

[ally505]

Hi All, I currently have an '00 Xstar and looking to get back to owning a Nautique. My initial plan has been to buy a 210, thus giving me two options, buy an '08 and add a home brew NSS system, or buy an '11 or newer and have NSS properly installed and use the Linc system.

I now have a third option, I have looked at a very clean '06 220 Team Edition with ZR6 and lots of options. I'm okay with the interior configuration therefore this comes down to a price and performance issue.

I'm in my early 40's, I enjoy wake boarding (I run around 2000lbs ballast in my Xstar) and from what I've been reading the wakeboarding wake on the 220, especially if I add weight could be problematic. I'm not keen on riding 23+mph so would probably limit the ballast to keep the speed down. What kind of additional ballast is necessary to get a good wakeboarding wake on a 220 and what kind of speed would I need to be running?

More importantly, the next boat will need to be suitable for the children progressing, I have a 7 and 4 year old, so guessing that my elder son will move from cable to behind the boat next year. How is the 220 wake unballasted and at slow speeds? How does it compare to a 210?

The 220 is only a good deal if it works well with the family and I don't feel the need to change to a 210. Yes, Ultimately I would like a 210, however if the 220 can do what I need it to do, then I would be happy going in this direction and saving some money along the way......


Appreciate any relevant feedback

[rossrips7]

I've ridden behind the 220 wake a couple times and actually landed my first heel 3 behind one. I thought the wake was nice with stock ballast around 22.5-23.5. It is similar to the og 210 with it being sensitive to side to side weight.


Sent from my iPhone using PLANETNAUTIQUE mobile app

[hondaprlud]

If really try to ride behind the 220 first. I've heard it's a much steeper wake than your xstar. You might not like it.


Sent from my crappy iPhone 6.

[swatguy]

One quick hit before I get started. 2012 is the first year your able to retrofit NSS to the touch screen. You can't do it to a 2011. You can still install NSS but it will not go through the Linc . It will need an additional manual switch.



After logging 1200hrs on a 2000 Xstar and now having made that same upgrade to an 08 210 I can tell you hands down due to the little ones the 210 is the choice. It's very user friendly with advanced to beginner riders, from kids to adults. While I still preferred the wakeboard wake of my XStar with2800lbs, the features ,amenities, space and versatility I get with the 210 makes me forget all about the minor step down in pop from the wake.

Still being a hardcore boarder at 37 , running extra weight in the 220 at 23mph with 2800 lbs beats the wake 210 for sure. More because I prefer alittlw
more straight up pop. It's meatier and peakier. Trade off tho it's it's very speed and weight sensitive when your fully ballasted beyond factory. It's because it has a deeper v to the hull. Allows that peaier wake. At slow speeds of 18-20 tho that wake is huge and scary for little ones even with no weight. I can get my 08 210 clean all the way down to 19.4mph with filling just a little bow weight. And my girls love it 9 and 12. The reversible lounge seating is also a home run for my kids and family. Having friends over with kids and entertaining more everyone loves the fact they can sit back and watch the kids goof off behind the boat without having to turn your neck. You get a reversible red seat with the 220 as well it it's not nearly as user friendly of a setup. The interior is chunked up a bit.


You can add NSS to any 07 and up 210 now right from Nautique. I did a write up of how to manipulate the NSS system without Linc. It's simple to do and we have had great success as have others. It really doubles the length of the surf pocket of surfing interests you at all.



I miss miss driving my 2000 Star. That boat was just a blast to drive. I also miss the wakeboarding wake. , but that's it. I love the 210 and can't see myself upgrading to anything beyond that. Moving to an 07 and up 210 is definitely a huge step up in an upgrade of room, space, versatility, quality, and ride. My 210 handles the rough water and chop so much better than the 205v. The two big knocks I have against my 210 is holeshot. Even with the most aggressive prop possible it still doesn't get up out of the water like my 2000 star with the 1235. The other knock is the lack of cup holders in the cabin. Dam near none. Plenty in the bow. Zero in the cabin.


With the the family and kiddos in mind I would really stay 210.

[Neverenough]

220 is super sensitive to weight side to side. If you were looking for a surf boat I'd say go for it but wakeboard I'm not sure it's best. Never owned a 210 but it's know for wake.

[ally505]

Thanks for the replies!

My previous boat was a '97 sport (same hull as the original SAN) so I was quite used to the vert wake and it being quite weight sensitive. With this and my current Xstar as the benchmark, I am kind of hoping I could live with the balancing act of running a 220, however if I really need to push the speed up with say 800-1000 lbs extra weight, then it's likely not the boat for me.

We do some surfing, however I am lucky enough to get to regularly ride behind a friends G23, so as long as the 220's surf wake is acceptable, I'd be happy. I've also noticed there is one forum member that has been making an NSS for the 220, so that would be an option.

I also realise that at some point down the line, I'll go to a 210, I do prefer going down the route of a 2012 (thanks Swat for the correction) as adding NSS to an earlier boat given the current market value of the older 210's (in the UK), then the smart money buys the newer boat with NSS already installed.

I'm going to take the 220 out to get a feel for it, the price to upgrade from the current boat to this is not too great, I'll bring along some lead weight to try balancing it............

[pSchwade]

I was dead set on a 210 when I upgraded from my 99' air, but only because I never considered a 220 - I just assumed the 210 was all I needed... after seeing a couple of 220s I took a serious look at them here are some things that I noticed:

the 220 is not a longer version on the 210 (thats the 230)... with the 220 you get a deeper hull that is better in rough water and makes a better surf wake (still working on the board wake). I suspect the 220 hull was the launching point for the G-series boats.

It has the right amount of space, it doesn't feel cramped but it also doesn't feel like a huge boat.

People also seem to under-value the 220 for some reason, IMHO it is a better designed boat the the 210 or the 230 but it often sells for less than a comparable 210.

I ended up picking up a 220 from a forum member and couldn't be happier (other than a bunch of DMV BS). one thing though - you should look at an 07+ 220, the 06s have the less desirable right-hand prop rotation.

[scottb7]

Cup holders...so true...got me a couple of these...work great!

[ally505]

Okay, so there are absolutely no 210's on the market in my price range so I have a water test booked for the 220. The plan as it stands is to test it with ballast full plus around 500lbs lead. Any suggestions as to where to place it? As far as I've read I should keep it midship and low. i'll see what speed we can clean up the wake with no ballast then do the same again with stock ballast full plus the lead.

The boat has the ZR6 engine, I'll do a compression test, assume I should be within 10% highest to lowest, what kind of baseline compression is healthy? Anything else to check on this engine?

anything else to look out for on the boat over and above the obvious???

[ally505]

Managed a quick test in the 220. Overall I was very impressed. With ballast full plus 500lbs of lead in the centre locker the wake had a lovely kick to it. 22.5mph was the slowest we could go (interestingly with no ballast the wake didn't clean up much earlier) but conditions were not ideal. As others have said the side to side weighting needs to be perfect as it only need be a little off to wash the wake out considerably. I can guess that other factors such as side wind, placement of boards in the racks etc will affect the lean of the boat and consequently affect the wake meaning having to play with the balance a bit. That said, a few bags of lead will take care of that, so I don't see any issue.

A few things didn't work or require repair -the steering was stiff so requires a new cable, the Perfect Pass display was dimming then going out (usually a sign of moisture) so needs replacing, the tacho, blower and one amp didn't work. Other than that a few little areas to tidy up, but nothing that would cause concern.

The seating is a bit strange, when you open the engine lid, there is loads of space so really no need for the "hump" at all. By my reckoning (and excluding the bow) the boat will seat 7 including driver comfortably, with the centre seat, you can bring this up to 9 but may feel a little cramped.

All going well I'll have a 220 in the near future.....

[8urchvy]

For what it's worth, we love the 220. Regularly have 8 adults on the boat with plenty of room. I've had as much as 6 adults and 7 kids without feeling like I was going to throw someone off.

All the other stuff previously said is true.

I added custom NSS and fresh air exhaust, replaced the steering cable, and the pop up pylon among other upgrades.

For the price, you win!

Would I like to own a G? he'll yeah! But, I can't afford one, so end of discussion.

Welcome to the Team!